Washing machine



Nov. 17, 1931. H. J. ADAMS WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 11, 1926 q if INVENTOR fle/"berf d iaama A TTORNE VS Fatented Nov. 17, 1931 STA TES

HERBERT J. ADAMS, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN WASHING MACHINE Application filed November 11, 1926. Serial No. 147,734.

The objects of this invention are:

First, to provide in'a washing machine a simple and efficient mechanismthat has a progressive squeezing and kneading action a rather than a rotary stirring action on the contents of the machine.

Second, to provide improved kneading and squeezing means.

Third, to provide such a structure adapted as an attachment to an ordinarydomestic washtub.

Fourth, to provide for use in such relation an improved falsebottom. 7

Fifth, to provide such a structure adapted to fold into compact space for storage.

Objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed descriptionto follow. The inventionis defined and pointed out in the claims. r

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of my improved washing machine organized in an ordinary wash tub.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view through the structure on a plane corresponding to line 22 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevational view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, a part of the weight being broken away and sectioned to show details of construction.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the same plane as Fig. 2, showing the washing machine folded toone side out of use and the weight hung on the side of the tub, and showing details of the false bottom structure.

Fig.5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing details. of one of the kneader shoes and the false bottom structure.

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which are the same in all the views.

1 is a round metal wash tub of usualconstruction, with the usual beaded rim 2 at the top. 3 is the metal main frame cross bar which is the base that supports the driving parts of my improved washing machine. 1, 1 are the hinged cover sections, semi-circularly formed, with hinges 41, 11 to the main crossbar 3. 5, 5 are the lug members which engage over the opposite sides of the tub 2, the lower edges projecting slightly horizontally to afford handholds for manipulation. 6, 6, 6, 6 are the pivoted latch hooks for looking the cover sections and the support in place. Each hook 6 is pivoted at 61 and its curved engaging hookpart 62 swings into and out. of engagement with the rim of the tub, as appears in Fig. l. 63 is a double hairpin-like connecting spring between each pair of hooks and affords a handle for their manipulation and is also a pivoted lock for the latch hooks after the hooks have been swung to place, the central part 64 being then forced down into engagement with the upwardly-projectingboss 31 at the center of the main bar 3, seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

7 is'a vertical central hollow main shaft, shouldered ,at'7l and journaled at 72 in the central boss 31 of the cross bar 74 is the crank for turning the. washing machine, secured to the upper end of the shaft 7 and provided with a pivoted knob or handle? 5. 8 is the driving crank clamped by screw 81 to the shaft 7 beneath the boss 31, and serving as a collar for a bearing against the under face of the said boss which constitutes a thrust bearing. 82 is a hollow downwardly-extending slidable socket journal bearing connection at the outer end of the driving crank 8 and in appearance is very similar to a crank handle. it embraces the upwardly projecting pin 112 which is like a crank handle on crank arm 11 (see below) 9 is a sheet metal perforated false bottom,

beingva disk of sheet metal with stiffeningbead 91 and with downwardly-punched holes 92 over the entire surface thereof to give it a corrugatedvwashboard effect. 93 are wires loosely looped and pivotedacross the false bottom to add to the corrugated effect and to keep the laundry from rotating therein, retaining it for the action of the kneaders above. 94 isa cross bar beneath the false bottom riveted at 95 to the center of false bottom 9. The ends of barc9l are defiected down to engage the bottom. (See Figs. 8 and l.)

10 is the oscillator disk, being a rocking member in the form of an inverted shallow cone withupturned rim flange around the same. lit-does, not revolve in doing its work but oscillates progressively when the actuator passes over it. 101 are the knuckle-like ,kneader members corresponding in a'very general way to the dolly fingers of an ordinary washing machine. These are made hollow and boat-shaped of projecting sheet metal perforated at the bottom at 105 and vented at 104- at the top and secured to the oscillator disk lO by rivets 106, as detailed in Figs. '3' and 5. 102 is the vertical central pin which extends into the bottom end of the hollow shaft 7 where it is loosely engaged andperinitted to oscillate and at the same time theengagement is such that it prevents the oscillator disk 10 shifting into contact with the sides of the tub.

11 is the crank-like arm journaled at 111 on the pin 102. It is disposed radially in the oscillator disk and in horizontal position. The journal bearing 111 is at an angle to correspond tothe angle of the pin 102 to the oscillator 10. 112 is the vertical crank pin at the outer end of crankll and is journaled slidably in socket 82 so that, depending on the amount of laundry within the tub,rthe disk can be raised or lowered and still be actuated effectively by the crank arm socket 82.

113 is a heavy pressure roll journaled on the radial arm ofthe crank 11. It is a roller and also'a moving weight, applying pressure as it advances. 1t presses down on the top side of the oscillator disk and causes it.to oscil- "the weight, being extended into the hooks 123 at each side so that when the weight is lifted it can hang on the side of the tub, a seen in Figs. 2, 3 and a.

The structure can be suitably weighted without this supplemental weight, but the supplemental weight is a great convenience and enables the light-structure to be made and the weight to be applied as needed.

I-have shown my'washing machine in its niostf-approved form. The false bottom would be available with widely modified upper structures and, on the other hand, the false bottom could be dispensed withand the present structure be quite elfecti'vely operated notwithstanding that the special arrangement of the false bottom is very effective in its cooperation with the kneading means. Of course, the entire driving means might be supported in another style of cover but it would lack the folding feature.

I desire to claim the invention in the particular form in which I have illustrated it and also broadly, as pointed out in the appended claims.

'Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a wash tub, of a main cross bar adapted to rest upon the same with a boss journal bearing at the center, a corrugated perforated false bottom within the tub, a hollow central shaft journaled in said boss with a crank handle forturning the same, a broad inverted conically shaped oscillator with an upwardly projecting central pin engaging loosely the said hollow shaft and provided with a plurality of hollow vented projecting kneadermembers on its under surface, a driving crank secured at the inner end to the central shaft beneath the main bar and having a downturned crank socket at the outer end, a bar having a journal at one end pivoted to the central pin of the oscillator and having at its other end an upturned crank pin driving end slidably journaled in the hollow crank socket of said driving crank,'and a. weighted roller journaled on said arm adapted to traverse the oscillator towards its outer edge.

2. The combination with wash tub, of amain cross bar adapted to rest upon the same with a boss journal caring at the center, a hollow central shaft. journaled in'said boss with acrank handle means for turning the H same, a broad inverted conically shaped oscillator with an upwardly projecting central pin engaging loosely the said hollow shaft and provided with a plurality of hollow vented "projecting kneader members on its under surface, a driving crank secured at the inner end to the central shaft beneath the main bar and having a downturned crank socket at the outer end, a bar having a journal at one'end pivoted to'the central pin of x the oscillator and with an upturned crank pin driving end slidably journaled in the hollow crank socketof said driving crank, and a weighted rollerjournaled on said bar adapted to traverse the oscillator towards its outer edge 3. The combination with a wash tub, of a main cross bar adapted to rest upon the same with a boss journal bearing at the center, a hollow central shaft 'journaledin said boss, with a crank handle means for turning the same, a broad inverted conically shaped oscillator with an upwardly projecting central pin engaging loosely the said hollow shaft and provided with a plurality of projecting kneader members on its'under surface,a drivizo ing crank secured at the inner end to the center shaft beneath the main bar and having a downturned crank socket at the outer end, a bar having a journal at one end pivoted to the central pin of the oscillator and with an upturned crank pin driving end slidably journaled in the hollow crank socket of said driving crank, and a weighted roller journaled on said arm adapted to traverse the oscillator towards its outer edge.

4. An attachment for a wash tub, comprising the combination with said tub, of a detachable main bar adapted to rest upon the same with a boss journal hearing at the center, a hinged cover at each side of the main bar, a pair of oppositely disposed pivoted latch bars on each of said covers having hooks at their outer ends to engage the rim of the tub, a spring to hold each pair of latch bars in said engagement with the tub and an operating shaft extending through said bearing and having washing mechanism connected thereto.

5. The combination with a wash tub, of a broad inverted conically shaped oscillator having an upwardly projecting central pin disposed loosely in said tub, and provided with a plurality of hollow vented projecting kneader members on its under surface, a radial arm with a weight thereon journaled on said pin, and means to cause said weight to progress and traverse the said oscillator near its periphery to oscillate the same as said weight progressively acts on said oscillator within the tub.

6. An attachment for a wash tub, compris ing the combination with said tub, of a detachable main bar adapted to rest upon the same having a boss journal hearing at the center, a corrugated perforated false bottom within the tub and having flexible wire loops projecting above the surface, cross bars with downwardly deflected ends therebeneath, with said ends engaging the side wall of the tub secured to said false bottom, and an oscillatabl-e cooperative inverted conical kneader means above said false bottom, and 'means to operate the kneader adapted to oscillate the same progressively and compress the laundry in the tub against the false bottom.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT J. ADAMS. 

